House Guest: My own expenses claims are zero

People express two feelings to me on the MPs’ expenses row: anger and boredom.

To readers fed up with the coverage, apologies, but it’s right to remind people of my claims and tell you what I’d like done about the scandalous claims of some MPs.

My own claims are simple: zero for expenses that would benefit me personally. No second home. No food. No furniture, and so on. I’ve not claimed a penny for my car mileage.

I’ve claimed for my staff’s wages and the running costs of my constituency office, such as rent, rates and so on – all of which are more expensive for a London MP – but these don’t benefit me personally: I don’t employ relatives.

I’m more transparent than the rules require – not just recently, but over twelve years – see www.edwarddavey.co.uk . I’ve long argued for reform.

So what should happen to MPs who’ve ripped off taxpayers?

First, the obvious. The expenses’ system should be reformed. MPs who’ve abused it should be forced to do one or more of three things, depending on what they did: pay it back, stand down from Parliament and/or face criminal charges. I’d like to see an early General Election. These are the basics to restore confidence.

Second, more profound reform. We must change a political system that allowed this, to give the public more say and prevent future corruption. From an elected House of Lords to cleaning up party funding, from electoral reform to fixed term Parliaments.

In 2000, I wrote a pamphlet “Making MPs Work For Our Money” – with ten reforms on how Parliament looks at the national budget. They’re more essential than ever, if we are to have MPs worth having.